Chapter Thirty-Three: Victory Upon Victory (Part Two)

It was precisely because Zhao Li had never encountered such masters before—like a newborn calf unafraid of the tiger—that he dared to provoke them in this way. True, yesterday’s ordeal had left Zhao Li seething with anger, but more importantly, he suddenly realized that he was behaving differently, as if he were finally letting loose all the grievances and frustrations he had suppressed over the years. The burly man before him was simply the first person to cross his path at this moment.

The giant seemed to appreciate Zhao Li’s bold challenge, mimicking his grip on the police baton. However, his hands were much larger than either Zhao Li’s or Jiang Hao’s, and his arms longer. The end of the baton reached only an inch past his elbow. With a sinister grin, he exaggeratedly flexed his limbs, his head rolling back and forth, producing a series of cracking sounds from his neck.

It seemed this was his first time wielding a police baton. Zhao Li could understand that; if these men were infamous for their ruthlessness, they probably preferred weapons designed to kill rather than blunt instruments like this one. Even holding a police baton did not mean he could use it proficiently, which was precisely why Zhao Li had been comfortable allowing Jiang Hao to hand it over. The unprotected area below the man’s elbow would be a weakness when using the baton. Though Zhao Li wanted to vent his rage, he had not lost his reason.

While the giant was still getting the feel of the baton, Zhao Li gave him no chance. With a quick push off the ground, he lunged forward. In the army, Zhao Li had not learned the custom of announcing his attack beforehand, and he doubted his opponent would foolishly wait for him.

The clash of their batons sounded crisp as they collided. The giant’s size and power were overwhelming; sheer weight alone sent Zhao Li stumbling back two steps.

But Zhao Li was unfazed. Retreating a step or two did not mean defeat; in fact, it gave him more space to launch his attacks. The police baton had natural advantages in subduing opponents and was also quite effective offensively. Though it was a blunt weapon and lacked the lethal power of knives or military daggers, its striking capability was still impressive.

Zhao Li’s medium build suited the standard police baton perfectly, but the giant was much taller, making the baton seem undersized in his grip. The horizontal handle barely accommodated half his hand, leaving space unused and making it awkward for him to wield.

Yet Zhao Li’s assaults were relentless and tightly woven. Faced with such attacks, the giant showed little panic. Though unfamiliar with the baton, he managed to parry most blows skillfully. If any attacks slipped through, as long as they didn’t target vital points, the giant barely bothered to dodge. Even when Zhao Li’s strikes landed, they produced a sound like hitting a rubber tire, causing no real harm.

This alone earned Zhao Li’s respect. To have forged his body to such resilience without relying on internal energy, and to withstand Zhao Li’s attacks, was unprecedented in his experience. But this only awakened Zhao Li’s wild instincts further. He let out a low growl from his throat, his attacks growing more forceful.

Now, with both men armed, the fight became evenly matched. The giant, though inexperienced with the baton, wielded it like a short club, his strikes fierce and aimed at fatal spots. Yet Zhao Li always managed to deflect these blows with his baton, sometimes even counterattacking immediately.

Having learned from previous mistakes, the giant fought more cautiously now, minimizing any openings. Zhao Li, aided by his internal energy and familiarity with the baton, still held a slight advantage. However, the giant’s brute strength far surpassed Zhao Li’s. Each time Zhao Li blocked, he had to use a reverse grip for better protection, launching attacks when opportunity arose. Though he was often forced back by the giant’s power, his arms numbed, the flow of internal energy quickly restored him. His opponent, lacking such ability, would surely feel the same numbness in his arms, Zhao Li believed.

The surrounding prisoners showed no intention of exploiting the fight to escape; they watched from a safe distance. Whatever their motives, the duel was at least entertaining—more authentic, perhaps, than a staged performance.

No one spoke or intervened. It was as if battles between guards and inmates were routine here, and even after all this time, no other guards had come to stop them. The rules in this place were indeed peculiar.

The giant’s favored move with the baton was an overhead smash. As he raised his baton high, Zhao Li seized his chance, swinging his own baton with precision at the giant’s exposed elbow. That was where the nerves clustered; a strike there would send a jolt of numbness down the arm and hand.

Zhao Li moved swiftly, his aim true. The baton’s end struck the target dead-on. The giant’s arm, already tingling from their earlier exchanges, now went utterly numb. No matter how well-trained he was, his movements faltered.

Zhao Li pounced on the opportunity. Using the same technique as before, he hooked the baton’s side handle around the giant’s elbow, twisted his body, and forced the man’s arm into a lock.

Thrown off balance, the giant had no way to counter. Zhao Li struck him hard at the back of the neck. Darkness closed in, and he collapsed to the ground once more, powerless to move, though his grip on the baton remained ironclad.

“If you didn’t have internal energy protecting you, you wouldn’t be so arrogant!” the giant grumbled, his face pressed to the floor. Yet he refused to admit defeat, expressing his indignation. He braced himself with his left hand, attempting to rise, but Zhao Li held his right arm fast, making it impossible.

The giant’s ferocity was startling. Unwilling to be subdued the same way twice, he pushed himself up with his left hand, showing he would rather break his right arm than stay down. Jiang Hao, watching nearby, felt his heart race with anxiety.

“Still not convinced? Fine!” Zhao Li released his grip, once again letting the man go. He turned and called out to Jiang Hao, “Officer Jiang, is there a device here that can seal off internal power? I’ll seal mine and fight this man again!”

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